Taco Truck Throwdown 7

2017 event is expanding to two days, featuring baseball, live music, the Major League Eating World Taco Eating Championship and a record amount of taco trucks

FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno Grizzlies and their frequent alter-ego, the Fresno Tacos, have announced full plans and the schedule for the organization's Taco Truck Throwdown event. The 2017 edition, presented by La Tapatia, will be the seventh annual, and for the first time will be spread over two days and include a non game-day event at Chukchansi Park.

Taco Truck Throwdown 7 presented by La Tapatia will be held Friday and Saturday, July 28-29, coinciding with the Fresno Tacos game Friday evening against New Orleans. The first day of the event will resemble past years, with a litany of taco trucks, beer and music available during the game, with a ticket to the game also serving as a ticket to the entire event. Saturday, which begins a roadtrip for the team, will be a "taco festival" at Chukchansi Park, featuring live music, the Taco-Eating World Championship, and what should be a record amount of taco trucks for patrons.

At Taco Truck Throwdown 6 in 2016, a record 34 taco trucks participated, and for both days of this year's festival nearly 40 trucks are expected, as the event continues to grow. At the last two single-day Taco Truck Throwdowns, 34,820 and 37,054 tacos were sold and consumed, respectively. The baseball game the event has coincided with has sold out the previous four years, with last year's crowd of 14,651 the second-largest in franchise history.

Friday, July 28: As with last year's event, which expanded outside of Chukchansi Park for the first time, taco trucks will be both inside the stadium gates and along H Street, as the perimeter for admission to that night's game will be extended. Game time will be a 7:05 p.m. first pitch, with all gates opening at 5 p.m. Friday's game will also feature an amateur qualifier taco-eating contest, with the top finishers advancing to Major League Eating's World Championship the following day, if they can stomach it.

Friday Night Fireworks: That night's fireworks display will be presented by Brightwood College.

Saturday, July 29: With the team on the road and the stadium open, day two of Taco Truck Throwdown 7 will be a day-long event with the following attractions:

· Major League Eating: The same governing body which oversees the World Hot Dog Eating Championship at Coney Island in Brooklyn, NY each July 4 is bringing the Taco Eating World Championship to the Taco Capital of the World, Fresno, CA. Many of the country's and planet's most accomplished eaters will compete for the crown, alongside local amateurs who will attempt to qualify during night one on Friday.

· Live music: Light Thieves, Los Hooligans, Groupo Desvelado, Force Em, The Box and more to be announced will perform at Chukchansi Park throughout the day.

· 40 or more taco trucks: The full compliment of taco trucks at Friday's game will return for the day's event on Saturday, which will feature taco trucks and other vendors on the field in a more festival-type environment.

As in past years, a fan's choice winner will be crowned, recognized as the Central Valley's favorite taco truck per the results of a vote that will be held on Saturday. There will also be a judge's choice winner, decided on Friday. El Premio Mayor will be defending each crown, as they've swept each award each of the last two Taco Truck Throwdowns.